Last August, me and Emma went on a sweet cross-canadian road trip from the West Coast to the Ottawa Valley. With Vanie, a 1998 Toyoto TownAce van stuffed with climbing and paddling gear, we cruised through winding mountain roads, flat prairie plains, and beautiful ontario shield landscapes.

Highlights:

I tried whitewater paddling for the first time. Experienced a new level of fear….

Got to climb some awesome sport and trad routes in Nelson, Thunder Bay (sandbag capital of the world) and in the Ottawa area.

Explored Algonquin Park. Found zero moose :-(

We saw some freaking butterflies hatch over breakfast!!!

About that last comment; Emma’s dad had placed monarch butterfly chrysalis all over his house, and every day over breakfast we got to see a few of them hatch, dry out, and fly away!!!!